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What The Heck Have You Raptors Have Been Up To While We’ve Been Away?

“Nuffing.” Mr. Merlin looking pretty innocent for a bird-mangling monster.“Iz just been looking at da burds Mr. Norfiside.” American Kestrel looks pretty innocent perched on LBI, but he has to be eating something. (First Kestrel I’ve ever found on the Beach. Never seen before on Readings From The Northside)That’s a good Northern Harrier. I’m not worried about you. You eat mice.The Hawk With The Owl Face“Iz just been babysitting da burdz. They has been really naughty. Bad Burdz!”Osprey says, “They takes all mah purches to eat burd, Mr. Norfside!”“No we duzn’t. Shut up Osprey.”We see you there, Mr. Merlin. You’ve got nothing to hide, as long as you haven’t been eating Shorebirds.I knew it. What’s that in your talon, Mr. Peregrine?“Nom nom nom. Oh, hey. I has bad newz. Dis burd wuz hurt. I wuz… helping it. But I accidentally swallowed some of it. It dead now. Sry.”

So the Raptor-ture continues on LBI, with a diverse group of feisty and awesome little bird-mangling monsters terrorizing the Island. We can be cool with that, as long as they continue to respect the rules and eat only “regular” birds, leaving our beloved shorebirds alone.

Speaking of which, can you I.D. the bird being devoured by the Merlin in that last photo?

Grew up in northern jersey and we would go to the shore (Ocean Grove) every summer. I’ve never been to LBI as an adult and had no idea there was such a wonderful variety of birds including raptors. My family now has an annual summer reunion at OG and I love seeing the osprey fish off the beach when we’re down in July–I’ve got him timed every afternoon between 3 and 4.

I’m a volunteer at the Raptor Center in Minnesota and have to say, I’m a little partial to my raptor friends! I’ve also become a birder and I believe the warbler that the merlin has caught is a magnolia warbler. Distinctive tail feathers. http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/photos/magwarb.htm